Version Update 8.7 Preview

New HUD Design

The HUD has been redesigned with a new fresh look. All the usual features are included with extra transparency and new chat filters like Globals, Skill and Damage being added.

Weapon Attachments

One of the major upgrades includes the modification of the Weapon Attachment system: Amplifiers. We've wanted to streamline this system to work better with several aspects of the Entropia Universe like avatar development and the rewards for attaining high skill levels. We also wanted to enhance the sense of advancement regarding the items you decide to use based on the skills you have - the more skills you have, the better equipment you can efficiently use.

Today it's easy to take a low-level weapon and add a high-level amp and this just doesn't correspond with the notion of steady advancement and investment in new gear. The current system also makes it difficult to add new amps to the market due to this imbalance.

Therefore a change is being made to the weapon amplifier system. From VU 8.7 an amp will at most increase the weapon base damage by 50%. Adding a more powerful amp will give a warning to the participant, stating the situation. The amp will be able to be used, it just won't perform max. damage. So in order to use a powerful amp, you will need a powerful weapon. This change will allow us to add more amps to the Entropia Universe and also include them in the manufacturing process, meaning the somewhat slow weapon attachment path in manufacturing will get a nice boost. This will also allow us to add more distinct weapons in the future and provide a better balance between quick firing pistols and slower rifles in that we can introduce more powerful amps for rifles without making pistols too powerful.

Light & Shading Enhancements

The light setting adjustments begun in VU 8.5 have continued with new shading for avatars and creatures. Fog and sunlight settings have also been adjusted to add more variation to the landscapes on Calypso. New options have been included in the Options panel of the Login Window to customize settings.